Innholdsfortegnelse for Sunday, November 29, 2020 i Sunday Independent

TheBrief ETHIOPIAN FORCES BEGIN OFFENSIVE ON TIGRAY CAPITAL Ethiopian government forces began an offensive to capture the regional capital Mekelle in the rebellious northern Tigray region yesterday, said a diplomat, and the leader of Tigrayan forces. The government, which says its military campaign is in its final stages, had given the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) an ultimatum that expired on Wednesday to lay down arms or face an assault on Mekelle, a city of 500,000 people. The government stressed on Saturday that it seeks to protect civilians. Reuters…

COURT Firmanox unsuccessful in claiming legitimate deals LOYISO SIDIMBA loyiso.sidimba@inl.co.za A JOHANNESBURG-based company has unsuccessfully claimed that the millions of rand it received from VBS Mutual Bank were part of a number of legitimate deals with the financial institution and the Shembe Church. Firmanox was fingered in the VBS Bank heist report for having received almost R18million from the now defunct bank. The company has now been liquidated for failing to settle its debt of over R24m. VBS liquidator Anoosh Rooplal successfully approached the South Gauteng High Court, stating that Firmanox benefited from the fraudulent scheme that saw VBS lose nearly R2billion, as found by advocate Terry Motau SC in 2018. He also sought Firmanox’s final liquidation due to its indebtedness to VBS. Rooplal told the court that Firmanox was…

PART 2 Chinese, Muslim kung fu book A kung fu athlete explores Islam in China and the Chinese Hui Muslim legacy of kung fu in his book KungFu: The Untold History Part 2. The Hui are an east Asian ethno religious group, predominantly composed of Chinese-speaking adherents of Islam. Muhammad Junaid “MJ Li” Chafeker will launch his second self-published book next month. Chafeker’s first book My Journey, The History, spoke of a young boy from humble beginnings, who went on to become a three-time world champion, last The 36-year-old, who grew up in Mitchell’s Plain, has been a kung fu and tai chi athlete for 22 years. Although a qualified teacher, Chafeker specialises in traditional Chinese medicine, practices acupuncture and traditional dry cupping. The book looks at the history of…

GBV Protect yourself from your abuser THE National Shelter Movement of SA – a beneficiary of the Solidarity Fund – advises on steps women can take when under threat. Step 1: Be prepared Have emergency numbers saved to your phone or written on a piece of paper. National GBV Command Centre: Call 0800428428. If you are unable to speak, you can send a “Please Call Me” to *120*7867# or SMS “help” to 31531. Rape Crisis: Includes access to the National Prosecuting Authority’s Thuthuzela Care Centres. Afrikaans: 0216339229 Xhosa: 0213619085 English: 0214479762 WhatsApp: 0832225164 National Shelter Movement of SA: Will help you find a shelter and medical assistance. Visit www.nsmsa.org.za. Step 2: Reach Out You can reach out to people you trust and create a WhatsApp group in case of emergencies.…

TRUCKING Violent attacks cripple trucking industry Strike will lead to increase in food prices and jobs bloodbath, warns economist almost six months ago, has claimed the life of one driver. Truck drivers embarked on a national shutdown to fight against the employment of foreigners in most sectors for a lower wage. Economist Mike Schussler said the strike would lead to an increase in food prices and a jobs bloodbath. “I know lots of these truck companies are getting more security, and the cost of transport in South Africa is going to increase. “This will lead to hunger, and not only in South Africa but to other African countries, because 10% of our trucks go outside the border every week. This is a mess that creates fear. It is an attack on…

COMMENT GBV: lessons from a pandemic WE ARE currently witnessing a time of the year that has become associated with intense campaigning against gender-based violence. In the same way, it is also the season for school and university exams and the annual holiday season. We also seem to have adopted a season for activism. The 16 Days of Activism period, initiated by the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991, sees countries around the globe staging anti-abuse campaigns from November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to December 10 (Human Rights Day). And while every effort to focus attention on our country’s disturbing problem of gender-based violence remains important, we also run the risk of not only restricting our efforts to a certain period of time,…

ETHIOPIA Government troops begin offensive on Tigray capital ETHIOPIAN government forces began an offensive to capture the regional capital, Mekelle, in the rebellious northern Tigray region yesterday, said a diplomat in direct contact with residents, and the leader of Tigrayan forces. Debretsion Gebremichael, leader of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), told Reuters in a text message Mekelle was under “heavy bombardment”. The Ethiopian military is using artillery in the assault, he said in a subsequent text message. The diplomat said explosions were reported in the north of the city, in the Hamidai area. A second diplomat also said the attack had begun. Billene Seyoum, a spokesperson for the prime minister’s office, said: “The Ethiopian National Defence Forces do not have a mission to bombard its own city and people.…

AFRICA Bizarre laws from across the continent CAPE TOWN: People are arrested every day for breaking the law in Africa, but there are countries known to have some unusual laws, leaving outsiders thinking twice before getting on the wrong side of the authorities. Here are some of the more unusual ways you can get arrested around Africa. In Morocco, it’s okay to have Bibles in all other languages except in Arabic. This is seen as undermining Islam. In the same way, you can be arrested for trying to convert an Islamic Moroccan to Christianity, according to the website The Travel Brief. In 2017 in Sudan, charges of indecency were dropped against 24 women who were caught wearing trousers at a party near Khartoum. If convicted, the women could have faced…

GERMANY Protest at AfD party conference ESSEN: Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) started a two-day party conference yesterday, accompanied by an anti-racist demonstration and a large police presence. Some 500 anti-racism demonstrators gathered in the town of Kalkar near the Dutch border, where the convention is taking place on a former power plant site in the Wunderland Kalkar amusement park. Legislators of almost all other German parties spoke at the demonstration, which was organised by the organisation “Stand Up Against Racism”. Earlier, demonstrators took part in a march against the the party conference, to which 600 delegates had been invited despite the coronavirus pandemic. AfD leader Tino Chrupalla opened the gathering with an attack on the government’s coronavirus emergency policies. He defended the holding of the conference, saying: “If…

AFRICA THIS WEEK NIGERIA TURNS OIL CURSE INTO A BLESSING VICTOR KGOMOESWANA @VictorAfrica LET US applaud Nigeria for its game-changing strides in its petroleum industry. President Muhammadu Buhari deserves credit for presiding over positive changes that are responsible for the breakthroughs in Nigeria’s downstream oil ecosystem. Among these are two announcements in the past two weeks: a 5000 barrels per day (bpd) modular refinery in the Ibigwe Field, Imo State, and the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Niger Republic to transport and store petroleum products. The latter will enable Nigeria to import Niger Republic’s excess refined products from the Soraz Refinery in Zinder, 260km from the Nigerian border. Exporting the surplus is a welcome boost to the bigger dream of intra-Africa trade and regional integration within the Economic…

REAL NUMBERS DATA IS KEY TO MEASURING, ALLEVIATING POVERTY COVID-19 has heightened the need for measurement, deepening the practice of science and the commitment to the use and application of evidence. Rapid community assessments are now possible given the digital devices that can be deployed for collection, processing and dissemination of data. Such information can be very useful in the levels of understanding and economic co-operation between employers and employees. These production communities, especially in the mining sector, often witness heightened conflicts. It is in this regard that Mining Dialogues 360° was born to facilitate sustainable economic activities that are conscious of the planet, people and generate prosperity for future generations. The case of Postmasburg in the Northern Cape makes for an important read. With high unemployment, inequality and poverty…

TV HIGHLIGHTS The Comey Rule Tuesdays at 9.30pm. M-Net (DStv 101) Starring Jeff Daniels as former FBI Director James Comey, this series follows the turbulent (and sometimes comical) events surrounding the 2016 United States elections. Based on Comey’s memoir, the political series showcases the early months of the Trump presidency. Brendan Gleeson (End of Watch) gives a performance as Donald J Trump that is profound and well-executed. Durban Gen Weekdays at 6.30pm on e.tv (DStv 194) Sanele’s poisoning of Smangele’s home-brewed beer backfires when it hits home. Precious persuades Qwabe into making an ethical decision. MacGyver juggles two jobs to maintain his new girlfriend’s lavish lifestyle and Qwabe gets her groove back.…

STARS Aries (March 21 - April 20) Stand by for a reshuffling of values, which could see love and friendship take on a new tone. You’ll be surprised at who volunteers when you need help, and you’ll be equally startled at who will let you down. This week brings a crash course in what you need from relationships. Taurus (April 21 - May 20) Half the world is talking about cutting workload. According to social futurists, we’re all meant to be “downsizing”, and value our leisure time more. Seems that you haven’t really taken this message to heart, as you continue to slog through the workload, regardless. Get off the treadmill, Taurus. Gemini (May 21 - June 21) You have a reputation for conquering your competition with words. Wry, quirky…

STRUGGLE Military veterans’ share list of demands SAMKELO MTSHALI samkelo.mtshali@inl.co.za THE high level panel on military veterans headed by Deputy President David Mabuza said this week that Cabinet ministers were assisting military veterans with a myriad of challenges they have brought to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s attention. A group called the Liberation Struggle War Veterans earlier this month marched to the Union Buildings to hand over a list of demands to Ramaphosa asking his administration to assist former liberation Struggle combatants to be compensated for their sacrifices. Ramaphosa responded by constituting the panel to look into their demands and to provide answers. The group consists of members of 11 military veterans’ associations which include members of the Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans’ Association (MKMVA), Azanian People’s Liberation Army Military Veterans Association (APLAMVA)…

STRUGGLE President responds by forming panel “The army is now open for everyone who wants to join and you can then join, but the integration process has been closed and cannot be reopened,” Mabuza. The deputy president said that in terms of economic integration and social integration the panel had consulted other ministers in government in order to be able to respond to those demands as a collective. “We have spoken to the Minister of Small Business Development (Khumbudzo Ntshavheni) and she has committed to assisting military veterans who are ready to start their own businesses. Those of our military veterans who want to start their own businesses will be put in contact with the department so that they can be assisted,” Mabuza said. He added that the Transport Ministry…

CORRUPTION Lawyer lists those who ‘need to appear before Zondo’ On Friday, Ngalwana told Sunday Independent that as a concerned citizen he was motivated by the Constitution and the promotion of participatory democracy to demand the appearance of Ramaphosa and the previous Zuma Cabinet before the Zondo Commission. Among those listed by Ngalwana to appear were: *Ramaphosa, who was Zuma’s deputy between 2014 and 2018; *Former President Kgalema Motlanthe, deputy to Zuma from 2009 to 2014; *Public Enterprise Minister Pravin Gordhan, who was finance minister from 2009 to 2014 and 2015 to 2017; *Lungile Fuzile, who was National Treasury director-general from 2011 to 2017; *Dondo Mogajane, who was a senior executive at National Treasury for many years, and has been director-general since 2017; *And the entire Eskom board of directors…

CONTRACT Didata in City bid controversy KARABO NGOEPE AND MANYANE MANYANE IT company Dimension Data (Didata) is using backdoor antics to get a piece of a R362 million contract it lost through competitive bidding. This is according to sources within the City of Johannesburg who have raised red flags with regards to Didata buying assets of corruption-besieged technology services company EOH. The assets that will be bought include a ERP (Enterprise resource planning) contract which was entered into in July 29, 2020, by which EOH was to provide first and second line SAP support services. Didata submitted a bid for the same contract but was disqualified due to non-compliance on key aspects of tender requirements. The company is said to have also not met the minimum functionality scores on certain…

NATION GBV bills delayed by Parliament SIYABONGA MKHWANAZI PARLIAMENT has delayed by several months the adoption of gender-based violence laws that will tighten these bills in order to ensure their lawfulness will not be open to challenges in the Constitutional Court. The justice committee had earmarked to finalise the three GBV bills by the end of the year, but it discovered there were provisions that could be open to a legal challenge. Chairperson of the committee Bulelani Magwanishe said yesterday they have referred the bills to the legal advisers of Parliament for an opinion before they finalise them. “We identified five issues that if not properly drafted there will be constitutional challenges,” he said, adding that the legal advisers were now looking at those issues. “It is better to pass…

SWARMED AWARENESS Dyslexia an uphill battle Early diagnosis, understanding, essential AMANDA MALIBA amanda.maliba@inl.co.za BAZ RATNER Reuters RETHABILE Mokoena is among an estimated one in ten South Africans living with dyslexia, a neurological disability that is often hereditary and is associated with difficulties in reading, writing, spelling and organisation. The 30-year-old says she is at her wits’ end, after exploring every possible avenue that could have helped her. She admits to constantly hitting a brick wall when she sought help because she is now older than 21 years old. She was diagnosed with the condition at 17 years old. Since then, she has struggled to secure the correct treatment. It has limited her upward mobility in the job market. She works at a local fast-food joint. Even though she is able to…

EDUCATION UCT dogged by the Mayosi Report Black Academic Caucus demands implementation of the recommendations EDWIN NAIDU Sophia Stander TENSION is brewing on several fronts at the University of Cape Town (UCT). It has been dogged by ongoing controversies during the troubled two-and-a-half-year tenure of embattled vice-chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng. Concerned staff and members of the Black Academic Caucus (BAC) demand action on the Mayosi report, released on June 20, which made several recommendations, none of which have been implemented. Amid a groundswell of criticism over UCT’s lack of action on Mayosi, the BAC said in a statement last week that staff and students, wounded by the tragic loss of Mayosi, were yet to see a response that sensitively but openly and publicly addresses the questions raised in the report.…

CRIME South Africa’s slow and painful slide towards anarchy JOVIAL RANTAO MOTSHWARI MOFOKENG African News Agency (ANA) THE group of armed robbers will go down either as the boldest thugs or history will record them as the dumbest of all criminals in South Africa. In broad daylight, they stormed an armoured car transporting cash right outside the Dobsonville police station. The thugs peppered the SBV truck with AK-47 bullets. The police officers responded in kind, and a shoot-out ensued. The police officers prevailed, the thugs took off, leaving one of them injured and in police custody. The fact that the armed robbers were not deterred by the physical presence of a police station – a symbol of law and order in any country – points to a growing problem in…

LETTERS Ramaphosa the worst performing president I AM TRULY ashamed to say that of all the presidents of the ANC since 1994, Cyril Ramaphosa is so far proving to be the smoothest talker and the worst performer. President Trump, despite all the ridicule heaped on him and the ignorance of any of his achievements, still trumps Ramaphosa hands-down regarding fulfilling his promises. Not only was Ramaphosa the deputy president to President Jacob Zuma, but he was also parachuted to the presidency even before being democratically elected. So he has had ample time to execute all his plans in light of the promises he made to the voters before being elected as state president. It was Ramaphosa himself who pleaded with the citizens to give the ANC another chance just before…

ThePeople Thousands left without electricity for almost 2 weeks after ice storm in Russia MOSCOW: About 10 days after an ice storm in the far south-east of Russia, thousands of people are still without electricity. The situation is particularly tense on Russky Island near the city of Vladivostok on the Pacific. The authorities are working flat out to the repair the power lines, they said yesterday. The residents of many villages there should be able to switch the lights on again this weekend, they said. The minister responsible for the Far East, Alexei Chekunkov, had previously spoken of a total of around 4000 people in the Primorye region who had been sitting in the dark for days. At the peak, 180 000 residents were without electricity. In addition, thousands of…

COVID-19 UK regulator set to approve vaccine roll-out LONDON: Britain is set to approve the Covid-19 vaccine developed by BioNTech SE and Pfizer Inc next week and deliveries would begin within hours of the authorisation, the Financial Times reported yesterday. The first immunisations using the BioNTech and Pfizer vaccine could take place from December7, the Financial Times said, citing unnamed sources. Earlier yesterday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson named Nadhim Zahawi, a junior business minister, as the minister responsible for the deployment of Covid-19 vaccines. Britain recorded 15871 new coronavirus cases yesterday and 479 deaths within 28 days of a positive test for the virus, according to official data. Meanwhile, more than 1300 people in Britain were inaccurately informed they were infected with coronavirus after a laboratory error at the…

REDEFINING BEAUTY Empowering women from all walks of life LESEGO MAKGATHO lesego.makgatho@inl.co.za SELF-love and body positivity movement Redefining Beauty, aimed at empowering women, is hosting conversations with women on social media on different topics affecting women such as mental health, careers, body-shaming and more. Founder of Redefining Beauty Kamogelo Magabane said the conversations began during the lockdown, and the concept is about sharing stories and finding commonality. “That is basically the crux of the movement – creating a platform where women can talk,” she said. The conversations on Instagram are between Magabane as the host with some of South Africa’s much-loved personalities such as Bonnie Mbuli, Zodwa wa Bantu, singer Maleh and more. The Redefining Beauty campaign also hosts an annual photo shoot that portrays the beauty of the female…

BUSINESS No slip-ups with AKA’s new vodka LESEGO MAKGATHO SUPPLIED WITH Bhovamania flourishing, multi-award-winning artist and businessman AKA is enjoying every bit of success around his album released recently. With class in session and the “Supa Mega” at the podium, the renowned artist shares his inspired taste of summer with yet another mind-blowing CRUZ flavour – this time “CRUZ Banana Deluxe”. This announcement comes after the success of CRUZ Watermelon, a flavour still reigning as one of the fastest-growing vodka offerings in South Africa. CRUZ Banana Deluxe carries the smooth five times distilled core of the CRUZ range, dressed in an iconic yellow bottle and is the epitome of AKA – bold, intense and a first of its kind in South Africa. The country will get to experience its ingenuity…

Retailers compete for disposable income in tough times GIVEN MAJOLA given.majola@inl.co.za SIMPHIWE MBOKAZI THIS YEAR’S Black Friday was likely to produce more winners than losers as retailers compete for the available disposable income in a tough economic environment. Digital company Connect Group said 2020 had been a very tough year, particularly for retail and nonessential retailers. Chief executive Steven Heilbron said that the disruption had forced retailers to relook their business models. Heilbron said there was still a fair amount of disposable income available that a retailer had to fight for. He said the group had advanced close to R600 million to retailers to compete and to position themselves have an online presence, improving store shopping experience by putting in coffee bars and entertainment, creating pick-up and drop-offs capabilities for…

Lebo M wants to change perception in reality show DEBASHINE THANGEVELO debashine.thangevelo@inl.co.za Showmax IN A FEW days, Lebo M – Coming Home will be available for streaming on Showmax. That the legendary producer, composer, arranger and performer would agree to a reality show surprised even him. Since he was in Taiwan, we chatted over Zoom earlier this week. He joked: “It’s been lovely. I landed, got the hotel and I’ve been in quarantine for 14 days. I’m seeing life through my windows, thank you very much for asking. “This is the new norm. You have to laugh it off and live with it. I got a couple more days here. I’m out of my ‘prison’ on the 27th.” After telling me about the great care he is getting in mandatory…

INJURY TIME Dirty tricks, credit card claims and cheeky Maradona’s holy water scandal – it’s all just part of the game MEDIA MADNESS “Machiavellian” journalism.”Dirty Tricks.” Boy, Cricket South Africa really didn’t like media, specifically five of those involved. And to confirm, it wasn’t just the former CEO, Thabang Moroe or that head of media and communications and sometimes acting chief commercial officer, Thamie Mthembu either. Mthembu confirmed to the Fundudzi forensic auditors, that in fact “there were other people” who were putting pressure to revoke accreditation but he was not prepared to reveal their identities during our consultation. Mthembu promised that he would reveal the identities “at a later stage.” Anyway, we’re glad to hear that one of the journalists who had their media accreditation revoked gave Mthembu much…

CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Mabasa saves Bucs’ blushes against Baroka MIHLALI BALEKA ORLANDO PIRATES (0)(1) Mabasa 90+1 BAROKA FC (0)(1) Gebhardt 47’ TSHEGOFATSO Mabasa was again the hero as he snatched a point for Orlando Pirates in their 1-1 DStv Premiership draw with Baroka FC at a wet Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Pirates striker scored for Pirates in stoppage time with a side-foot effort from close range to ensure Pirates remained undefeated in the league this season after two wins and three draws. This was Mabasa's second late goal in as many matches. For the better part of the half Pirates dominated the play and owned possession as they rotated the ball with ease in their build-up but without much conviction in the final third. Good football is good…

RUGBY Lions find their roar as lightning stops the match MORGAN BOLTON BackpagePix GRIQUAS (17) 17 Try: Luus, Keyter, Verity-Amm; Conversion: De Beer GOLDEN LIONS (13) 20 Try: Skosan (2), Penalty Try; Penalty: Jantjies Match stopped due to lightning. THE Golden Lions played some rugby for 15 minutes, and for the first 30 minutes of their first Carling Currie Cup encounter in Kimberley against the Griquas, seemingly only made up the numbers. No matter – they still managed to claim a victory, despite the Griquas commanding the scoreboard in the first half. The Lions had no answers to the questions the Griquas posed, especially in the first half-hour. It did not help that their search for truth was hampered by an inability to hold onto the ball, limit their mistakes,…

LEGAL Gerrie Nel, Thandi Modise set for court showdown MZILIKAZI WA AFRICA THE TRIAL of the speaker of parliament Thandi Modise is expected to start at the Potchefstroom Magistrates Court on Tuesday where she will face six charges of animal cruelty. The trial is expected to run for three days. Modise joins a list of senior ANC members who include the SG Ace Magashule and Bongani Thomas Bongo who appeared in court on various charges in recent weeks. AfriForum is prosecuting Modise privately after NPA declined to prosecute even though the lobby group claims it had presented a strong case against the speaker. “The NPA tried to protect the speaker because she is politically connected and not because she doesn’t have a case to answer,” said one of the case…

IN MEMORY COMMEMORATION Struggle hero honoured ‘Barney fought for black people’ LESEGO MAKGATHO lesego.makgatho@inl.co.za BHEKIKHAYA MABASO African News Agency (ANA) SPEAKERS and dignitaries paid tribute to anti-apartheid Struggle hero Richard Barney Molokoane during a commemorative ceremony held at Freedom Park Heritage Site and Museum yesterday. Molokoane, a freedom fighter famous for the Sasol plant bombing in 1985, was hailed for his contribution to the Struggle. The ceremony to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the death of the Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) freedom fighter and special operations commander kicked off at Avalon Cemetery in Soweto where wreaths were laid at his grave. The second leg of the ceremony took place in Pretoria where his name was engraved on the wall inscribed with the names of freedom fighters. The crowd sang Struggle songs…

PROBE Plan to charge Magashule lawyer Law firm was allegedly paid double the R60 000 agreed on retainer by Gems MZILIKAZI WA AFRIKA PLANS are afoot to charge Victor Nkhwashu, the lawyer for ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule, after his law firm was allegedly paid double the R60 000 retainer agreed upon by the Government Employees Pension Scheme (Gems) in 2016. Nkhwashu’s law firm is also accused of invoicing the scheme another R292 078.40 “without any specified hours worked and hourly rate” the report has said. The Sunday Independent has it on good authority that the scheme submitted a report as evidence against Nkhwashu, to the commercial crime unit a few weeks ago. The report comes from an investigation by Ligwa Advisory Service which was contracted by the scheme in May…

CCMA FNB inconsistent with d ismissal Accused of haphazard disciplinary action against staff DON MAKATILE A GROWING list of staffers complain that when it comes to dismissals of employees found transgressing its internal policies, banking giant FNB seems to apply the rules inconsistently and at whim. Section 3 (6) of Schedule 8, of the Labour Relations Act, stipulates that the employer should apply the penalty of dismissal consistently with the way in which it has been applied to other employees in the past, and consistently as between two or more employees who participate in the misconduct under consideration. According to Mariza Bernkia, while the bank is quick to flaunt the LRA and other relevant legislation, it picks and chooses what to do with offending employees. Dismissed five years ago for…

BOOK Memoir reveals rot of corruption DON MAKATILE don.makatile@inl.co.za Former Bosasa chief operating office tells of his dealings with politicians WHEN the former chief operating officer of the Bosasa group, Angelo Agrizzi, took the witness stand at the State Capture Commission before chairperson Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo in January last year, television ratings shot up. South Africans could, perhaps for the first time, put a face to the scourge of corruption and Bosasa, later known as African Global Operations (AGO), was at the heart of stealing from the state through dodgy procurement tenders. Agrizzi sang like a canary, and from his lips names of powerful politicians from the ruling party were hurled into the public discourse around corruption, from former president Jacob Zuma, Dudu Myeni, Nomvula Mokonyane, Gwede Mantashe,…

EDUCATION Uncertain financial outlook for tertiary sector in 2021 EDWIN NAIDU Patrick Mtolo AMID the prospect of subsidy cuts brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, universities face significant financial hurdles in 2021. But while some institutions expect cutbacks, most are hopeful that they will survive without job losses, salary cuts or threats to departments or educational programmes. Dr Blade Nzimande, the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, warned the sector at a media briefing, of disruptions during the 2021 academic year because of the changes in the 2020 academic calendar. The extended 2020 academic year will only be completed early in 2021. Therefore the 2021 academic year will start later than previously planned due to the readjustment of the academic calendar. This will affect the intake of first-year students…

EDITORIAL Gender-based violence reaches pandemic proportions THE Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the country’s underbelly – the vast inequalities and the severity of violence, specifically gender-based, as statistics spiked during the hard lockdown. The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence for No Violence Against Women and Children is an annual international campaign that runs until December 10, Human Rights Day. Various organisations are doing all they can to help and support women and children by providing a safe place, court interdicts and prosecution as well as counselling. The event, which has been running in the country for 25 years, continues to put a spotlight on this scourge of the country’s most vulnerable citizens. But for the woman and child who will be abused or worse still, murdered today, this event…

IRAN: ‘NUCLEAR SCIENTIST’S WORK WILL NOT STOP’ Assassination heightens tension IRAN’S supreme leader promised yesterday to retaliate for the killing of the Islamic Republic’s top nuclear scientist, who the West and Israel believed was the architect of a secret Iranian programme to make weapons. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s top authority, who says Tehran has not sought nuclear arms, also pledged in his statement on Twitter to continue the work of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who died on Friday after a gunman ambushed him in his car near Tehran. The killing, which Iran’s president was swift to blame on Israel, threatens to spark a new Middle East confrontation in the final weeks of US President Donald Trump’s term. It could also complicate any efforts by President-elect Joe Biden to revive relations with Tehran…

VATICAN Pope appoints cardinals including Washington cleric POPE Francis appointed 13 new cardinals yesterday, including Washington Archbishop Wilton Gregory, the first black US prelate to be admitted among the so-called “Princes of the Church”. Gregory, who turns 73 next month, leads an archdiocese rocked by the scandal of Theodore McCarrick, a former archbishop who was defrocked last year after being outed as a serial sexual predator. In June, Gregory made headlines after criticising US President Donald Trump for turning a visit to the Saint John Paul II National Shrine into “a photo opportunity”. He and other cardinals-elect were given the red hats and rings that come with their titles in a service led by the pope in St Peter's Basilica. Two of the 13 new cardinals, both based in Asia,…

NORWAY Terror suspect to be extradited OSLO: Norway is set to extradite a terrorist suspect with a Norwegian passport to France for an attack on a Jewish restaurant almost 40 years ago. The man from the Palestinian Territories has been a Norwegian citizen since 1997. The Norwegian government dismissed an appeal by the 61-year-old on Friday, leaving the Norwegian domestic intelligence service PST 10 days to hand him over to the French authorities. The PST confirmed the move yesterday. In France, the man is charged with his involvement in the attack in Paris in August 1982. A terrorist squad attacked the Jo Goldenberg restaurant in the Marais district of Paris with a hand grenade and machine guns. While fleeing, the terrorists shot at passers-by in the Jewish quarter and escaped.…

MUSIC Following his dreams pays off Gomba’s album is a blend of Afro-Soul and Amapiano EDWIN NAIDU SUPPLIED THABANG Howard Gomba used to work as a quality controller in the Nissan South Africa motor vehicle plant before deciding to ditch his overalls for a recording studio. He teamed up in 2014 as a producer with DJ Maphorisa before working with the likes of Mafikizolo and Sjava, with whom he scored the hit song Ngempela that put him on the map. This evening at Cofi in Brooklyn, Pretoria, the trained mechanical engineer débuts Love and Affection, his solo offering that tugs at the heartstrings of listeners with a festive beat. “About five years ago, I decided to leave corporate and follow my dreams, my passion,” he said in an interview on…

Rise in armoured vehicle searches EDWARD WEST edward.west@inl.co.za MOTOR dealership showrooms may downsize in the future, but the need for customers to interact with a person in the final stages of buying a vehicle means the dealership will still have a crucial role to play. The National Automobile Dealers Association chairperson Mark Dommisse this week said customers were, however, likely to do substantial research before buying a vehicle. “We are already changing the way we do business,” Dommisse said. “Buyers today have a choice of 49 vehicle brands in South Africa and they don’t want to make the wrong decision, so they are still likely to discuss the pros and cons of the vehicle and the deal offered with a sales executive.” Dommisse said motor vehicle dealers in South Africa…

BIZ 101 How to find your post-Covid pricing sweet spot COVID-19 has undoubtedly changed the way we do business. It has also impacted on purchasing habits and, in some instances, reshaped the demand landscape with consumer wallets stretched and their priorities shifted. For a small business, this is probably a good time to reflect on pricing strategies and to get an idea of how well-positioned they are for the new normal. Deciding the right price can be a tricky balancing act. Overpricing can put the business at risk of losing customers while setting your price point too low may be seen as signalling inferior quality and could even make some clients hesitant to work with you. Here are some handy tips to ensure that you re-structure your pricing accurately: Competition…

FILM Boyega challenges racism in ‘Red, White and Blue’ ALYSSIA BIRJALAL alyssia.birjalal@inl.co.za STEVE McQueen’s Small Axe has been one of the most anticipated productions of the past year. The five-part series tells personal stories from London’s West Indian community in five films. The first release was Mangrove, starring Letitia Wright as Altheia Jones-LeCointe, a Trinidadian physician and research scientist also known for her role as a leader of the British Black Panther Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. The second is Lovers Rock with Roots star Malachi Kirby as the lead character Darcus Howe, while Star Wars star John Boyega leads the cast of Red, White and Blue, and Sheyi Cole plays the lead in the fourth film, Alex Wheatle. The anthology ends with Education, a coming-of-age drama with Kenyah…

TV GUIDE TODAY Cricket: T20 International: South Africa v England, Second T20, 2pm, CRI, GSD (2.25pm); ANZ Bank Twenty20 International: New Zealand v West Indies, Second T20, 2.30pm, ACT; Women’s Big Bash League, Final, 4.40am, VR1; ODI Series: Australia v India, Second ODI, 5.30am, CRI, GSD (8am) Golf: Sunshine Tour: Alfred Dunhill Championship, Day 4, 12 noon, GOL Motorsport: FIA Formula 2 Championship, Round 11: Race 2, 11.50am, MSP; Formula 1: Sunday Grand Prix, Bahrain, 2.30pm, MSP; Bahrain Grand Prix, Main Race, 4.05pm, MSP; Chequered Flag, Bahrain, 6pm, MSP; The Notebook, Bahrain, 7pm, MSP Netball: SPAR Challenge: International Series, Match 3: South Africa v Malawi, 12.45pm, VR4 Rugby: Autumn Nations Cup: Ireland v Georgia, 3.50pm, RUG; The Final Whistle, 6pm, RUG; Guinness Pro14: Scarlets v Leinster Rugby, 7.10pm, GSD, RUG;…

GRAVITY BREAKER SOCCER Pitso ‘Jingles all the way’ with African club of the century Mosimane thrilled with returning Al Ahly to African glory MIHLALI BALEKA SYDNEY MAHLANGU Backpagepix “IT was not easy, let’s be honest. It’s tough but you feel good. Al Ahly trusted me that I could deliver the trophy, and the trophy is delivered,” a modest Pitso “Jingles” Mosimane said in the bowels of Cairo International Stadium on Friday night. It may seem he was almost speaking in stark contrast compared to his boastful self, but Mosimane is right – it was not (going to be) easy – considering he wasn’t tasked to deliver just any other trophy but the coveted CAF Champions League crown. Granted, the 56-year-old coach may have taken over the reins with the…

CRICKET Hawkeye view of five areas Proteas need to improve in order to bloom The Proteas need to up their game if they are planning to level the series at Boland Park on Sunday The Proteas returned to action after eight months in hibernation on Friday at Newlands. Quinton de Kock’s side may have lost on the night, but there was sufficient evidence that the team is progressing under new coach Mark Boucher. IOL Sports’ Zaahier Adams examines five areas the Proteas need to improve if they are to level the series at Boland Park (2.30pm) on Sunday. 1. Selection New convenor of selectors Victor Mpitsang has endured a baptism of fire in putting together the first XI of his tenure this week after the withdrawal of all-rounders Dwaine Pretorius…